Friday, February 19, 2010

True Compass

Perseverance. I read memoirs for two reasons: to gain insight about our human condition through the lives of others, and to learn something about an individual who is interesting and engaging. Ted Kennedy’s memoir, True Compass, provides reading pleasure on both fronts. As to insight, this memoir presents ample examples of the ways in which perseverance builds character: every time Ted was knocked down, he got up again. His resilience and hard work appear throughout the memoir. The extended Kennedy family lives with intense public attention and scrutiny, and True Compass provides an inside perspective on how that played out over a lifetime. Sailing and the sea feature prominently throughout Ted’s life and in this memoir. The lion of the Senate lived a full, rich and imperfect life. Reading his story from his point of view brings to life dramatic moments in modern American history and allows all readers to increase their understanding of this person and those times.